In 2002, the famous Hong Kong director and screenwriter Zhuang Wenqiang and Mak Siu-fai joined forces as screenwriters, and the famous director Liu Weiqiang and Mak Siu-fai directed the police film "Infernal Affairs" as soon as it was unveiled, it shocked the entire Asian film industry and had a far-reaching impact. The film has also been called "the first classic of Hong Kong gangster cinema in the 21st century".
Infernal Affairs was released in Hong Kong, China on December 12, 2002. Within two weeks of release, the box office exceeded 30 million Hong Kong dollars. In the end, with a box office result of 55.05 million Hong Kong dollars, it became the annual box office champion of Hong Kong films in 2002. At the same time, the film also won 8 nominations at the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards 7 awards and 7 nominations at the 40th Taiwan Film Golden Horse Awards.
Infernal Affairs has also had a huge impact on overseas markets, especially in South Korea. The film premiered in South Korea on February 21, 2003, re-released on September 8, 2011, and was released for the third time in South Korea on March 17, 2016. At the same time, a crime gangster film directed by Park Hoon-jeong and starring Choi Min-sik, Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jeong-jae, known as South Korea's "infernal affairs" version of the crime gangster film "New World", was also released in South Korea on February 21, 2013. Director Park Hoon-jeong admitted that the film was based on "Infernal Affairs".
Although it is known as the Korean "infernal affairs" version of the gangster movie, the overall story of "New World" is still very different from the host. The real legend is the police action film "Infernal Affairs", directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon, which was produced in 2005. According to the winner, this film is also better than blue. In 2007, "Infernal Affairs" won the 79th Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Picture.
"Infernal Affairs" is already at the top level, and only from the perspective of the level of awards, "Infernal Affairs" can surpass the original version, which must be unusual. Let's start with the story. The ideas, techniques, settings, music, etc. of Hollywood blockbusters can be called top-notch, and if they are accompanied by a good story, they must be a classic film. The story and even the subtle plot of "Infernal Affairs" are basically copied and copied from "Infernal Affairs". The only difference was that the gangsters' undercover in the police did not end up getting out of the way. At the same time, this film also directly brought the screenwriters of the original "Infernal Affairs" film Zhuang Wenqiang and Mak Zhaohui over, plus the local Daina William Monahan (screenwriters of "Heavenly Dynasty", "Sin City 2" and other films), such a posture is to directly surpass the original version of the story of this movie.
The director is Martin Scorsese, a famous director of the Hollywood generation, Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Liang Chaowei's undercover policeman, and Matt Damon played Andy Lau's gangster undercover role. Jack Nicholson plays the role of Zeng Zhiwei's gang boss. Mark Wahlberg plays the boss of an undercover cop who resigns and shoots the gang's undercover agent. This cast is basically the top standard that Hollywood can basically do. Leaving aside the movie itself, these people got together and did nothing, and the judges had to weigh it. Moreover, the movie itself is not bad.
Director Martin Scorsese was one of the standard-bearers of the New Hollywood movement and was one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. His films are known for their violent depictions and foul language, with themes that favor modern crime and gang conflict. The film bears a striking resemblance to his "Good Guys, a reportage about gangsters":
The film takes place in Boston, and the protagonist is replaced by an Irish gangster. In order to eliminate the gang, the police decided to send police academy graduate Billy (Leonardo DiCaprio) to go undercover. After various killings and looting, he won the trust of the black boss Frank. Meanwhile, Colin (Matt Damon), who was sent undercover by gangsters to the police, is in the limelight and is the superintendent of the Force's "Special Investigation Unit". As the police and bandit fights become more and more intense, the two undercover agents are becoming more and more difficult to settle down, and the unveiling game begins...
The most important highlight of this film is the localization of the film. If there is no host influence, this is definitely the most authentic gangster movie in Hollywood. Noisy streets and alleys, dimly lit vulgar bars, drug trafficking, blood and violence are also the favorite tastes of the great director Martin, and they are also the base of gangster films. Therefore, if drug crimes are in it, turf is in it, and audience interest is here, then the Hollywood market will not abandon it. The localization of the film, the gas of the ground, the taste, it can be seen that the success of "Infernal Affairs" is really not a vain name. The film topped the charts with $27 million in its first weekend of release and set Scorsese's personal record.
Looking at these actors in the story, they are all Oscar-level superstars, Leonardo DiCaprio will be the external fierce violence and the sincere resignation of the heart plus the tragic tone of the whole performance, on the one hand, to make a prophetic judgment of their own ending, on the other hand, it also makes the film with a tragic color; Matt Damon, who will be full of ambition in the police station and the cautious, fierce and fatalistic performance when colluding with the gangsters, and finally being shot, is also a smooth and easy to carry out. Jack Nicholson plays the black boss, who is reckless, snake-hearted and far-sighted, and will kill the field.
This film and "Infernal Affairs" actually do not take the same route, which is their biggest difference, which is also the influence of cultural factors. "Infernal Affairs" takes the road of literary drama, there are martial arts, martial arts is to render emotions and promote the plot, and make a break on the plot. The literary drama is the internal driving force that promotes the development of the entire storyline. Therefore, there are many dialogues, actions, and close-ups of the film in the film. Including costumes, scenery, etc., almost all with a sense of literary, quiet and exquisite scenes. In particular, liang Chaowei's fingers shaking when sending information, the scene of psychological rehabilitation, and the facial expressions of large sections in the play all make people feel that this film is actually psychological warfare. This is also a cultural embodiment of the introverted character of orientals.
"Infernal Affairs" is undoubtedly relying on martial arts to fight the world. There are many plots, and there are fewer literary and dramatic interminglings, that is, you come and go, fight and fight, and people's fate rises and falls in them, not giving you psychological adaptation and transition, and the story directly forward. Even the ending is a crisp picture, not allowing you to leave your seat with regrets.
This film also made the long-dormant gangster film raise its eyebrows in Hollywood.
Perhaps it is the difference in culture, or the prejudice of the region, or the weakness of the film's status, "Infernal Affairs" has not reached the height of "Infernal Affairs" in terms of false name. But compared with the two, I still think that "Infernal Affairs" is more classic and more suitable for quiet viewing.